Bill Murray Reflects on SNL50 Pep Talk: ‘They Just Needed a Boost’
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Bill Murray, a former Saturday Night Live cast member and five-time host, recently shared how he helped lift the spirits of the SNL50 writing team ahead of the milestone anniversary special.
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show on March 12, the 74-year-old actor recalled walking into a tense meeting with SNL’s writers as they prepared for the highly anticipated 50th-anniversary celebration, held on February 16 at Studio 8H in Manhattan.
“It was grim. It just felt very heavy,” Murray described. Having already seen parts of the show’s planning, he felt excited about the event’s potential and decided to share some encouragement.
“I just tried to tell them how beautiful it was going to be,” he said. “What a wonderful responsibility it was, how many people were going to watch and love it, and that I thought it was destined to be a great success.”
His words resonated with the team, including SNL alum Tina Fey. “She really enjoyed it, and I guess the other writers did too. They just needed a little boost,” Murray added.
Barrymore, 50, reminisced about her long-standing admiration for Murray, recalling how she tracked him down via payphone back in 2000 to ask him to join Charlie’s Angels as John Bosley. Calling him an “SNL legend,” she praised his lasting impact on the show.
Murray, however, humbly credited the entire SNL cast and writing staff for its ongoing success. “There were great people that kept coming through,” he said. “It’s been a never-failing spring of talent … They have real talent, and they have really good writers. There’s stuff that amazes me that they write nowadays.”
SNL50: The Anniversary Special is now streaming on Peacock.